After two successful years in Anaheim, WonderCon is staying there for the third year in a row, as revealed on the show’s official page. The 2014 show will be held April 18, 19, and 20, which is Easter. The show drew over 56,000 attendees last time, and seems to be growing.
It isn’t quite clear why WonderCon isn’t returning to the Bay Area, it’s home of 26 years, but officials at the Moscone Center have thus far shown no signs of wanting the show back, which makes them, as far as we can tell, big poopy pants, because comic-cons are big business everywhere else.
Exhibitor applications are available now; badge information, guess, hotels and the rest will be coming soonish.
With hotels, badges and booths much easier to get to than the Big Show in San Diego, and yet a still stellar entertainment line-up, and of course, fabulous comics guests, WonderCon is becoming an increasingly popular relaxing alternative to Comic-Con madness. We keep hearing rumors of a revamped show for northern California but nothing solid. We’ll let you know when we hear.
Heidi MacDonald is the founder and editor in chief of The Beat. In the past, she worked for Disney, DC Comics, Fox and Publishers Weekly. She can be heard regularly on the More To Come Podcast. She likes coffee, cats and noble struggle.
It drives me nuts that CCI has been so closed-mouthed about this. These dates were reserved weeks ago (and found via Google-fu on the Anaheim convention/visitor’s bureau website) but CCI took this long to announce anything. Now they’re not even explaining why they’re not in San Francisco any longer. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad they’re having the show, and I will be attending, but I wish CCI would be more transparent about things.
I for one am glad that WonderCon is coming back to Southern California, I’ve loved going to this show for the last two years and will again next year. I don’t know the deal with Moscone or San Francisco, I mean seriously, cons have been making big money everywhere they go, including Wizard to some extent, so I have no idea why they’ve been so obtuse with a favorite convention of the city the way they have. C’est la vie
I think Wondercon is here to stay (in Anaheim) only 56,000 in 2013?
Come on Wondercon there is still the other half of the convention center floor to fill. Fill it up! More Vendors, more attractions!
Make is SDCC Orange County / LA. Let go for 80 or 90,000 in 2014!
Last year was a BLAST!
Need some sneak peak movie and TV premiers in the Arena.
Do a Thursday night Preview Night! Expand Wondercon!
Where are the comic and animation company Portfolio review tables!!??
Build it and they will come!
Very Excited !!!
Local So Cal Guy: Be very very very very careful what you wish for. After going to Comic Con since ’93, I can tell you the worst thing that could happen to Wondercon is to have your wish fulfilled. I loved going the last two years as an alternative to Comic Con (and yes there can be more added to it, but don’t go overboard). I actually feel sorry for the Bay Area fans as they seemingly have lost it and that’s just sad for them. For their sake I hope either Wondercon goes back or they simply start another one.